AirDrop

AirDrop is a Wi-Fi ad-hoc service in Apple's OS X operating system, introduced in version Mac OS X 10.7 "Lion". Using AirDrop, users can share files with other supported Mac computers running OS X 10.7 or later without the need of a Wi-Fi network or any configuration and without the need of USB mass-storage devices. The feature is available through a special folder in Finder, and as of OS X 10.8.1 can be accessed through the menus Go > AirDrop or by pressing ⇧ Shift+⌘ Cmd+R.

AirDrop, officially, is limited to these models and newer:

• iOS 7
• MacBook Pro (Late 2008)
  • The white MacBook (Late 2008) does not support AirDrop.
• MacBook Air (Late 2010)
• MacBook (Late 2008)
• iMac (Early 2009)
• Mac Mini (Mid 2010)
• Mac Pro (Mid 2010; Early 2008 or Early 2009 with AirDrop-supporting AirPort Extreme card)

AirDrop is also available on Hackintoshes (generic PCs running Mac OS X) and which have AirDrop-supported WiFi cards, such as Broadcom's 4322/94322. Despite Apple's claimed restrictions, hackers have found that AirDrop can be enabled on any Macintosh running OS X Lion with a shell command, and will work over Ethernet as well.

See also

• Wi-Fi Direct, a similar technology
• Bonjour, the service discovery protocol employed